With the hottest weather of the season expected to hit New England early this week, Unitil is recommending customers take steps to conserve energy whenever possible as they try to beat this early summer heat.
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and extreme heat watches and warnings for communities in Unitil’s service territories effective today and tomorrow. The current forecast is calling for dangerously hot and humid conditions to impact the region with heat index values as high as 110 degrees possible in some areas.
Given the extreme heat, Unitil expects to see a spike in energy demand as customers plug in their air conditioners to stay cool and comfortable. In New England, the highest electrical loads regionally are generally experienced on the hottest days of the year. The cost of energy is also highest when demand for electricity peaks, which typically occurs between the hours of 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
“After a rainy and unseasonably cool spring, summer has arrived and has apparently wasted no time cranking up the heat and humidity,” said Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O’Meara. “With the hot conditions forecasted to stick around over the next couple of days, we strongly recommend customers take steps to reduce their energy usage as much as they can, especially during peak times. Those efforts to conserve energy now and ease overall demand could lower energy costs in the future.”
While there are a variety of ways to conserve energy during heat waves and at other times during the summer season, installing an ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner can lead to significant savings as it uses approximately 20% less energy than a non-certified one depending on the product class. It’s also important to make sure that the unit is the proper size for the room as many people buy units that are too large, resulting in wasted energy. ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers remove the same amount of moisture but are also much more energy efficient than conventional units.
The following are other tips that can help reduce energy consumption during periods of intense heat:
- Use a programmable thermostat to control air-conditioning more effectively.
- Pre-cool your home midday when solar production is at its highest rather than during peak hours
- Clean or replace air conditioner filters to improve the efficiency of the unit and prolong its lifespan.
- Close and lock windows and pull shades or blinds, especially on windows facing south and/or west to block the summer light.
- Use a ceiling fan to create a draft to cool a room and reduce energy usage as an alternative to air conditioning
- Avoid use of other major appliances such as dishwashers or laundry machines during peak usage times
Unitil also encourages customers not to rely too heavily on any one option and to plan for an alternative means in the event of a power outage. Customers should take the necessary precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses as well.
For more simple tips to stay cool and energy efficient this summer, click here.
